U.S. patent application number 16/174810 was filed with the patent office on 2020-04-30 for kits for enhanced cooling of components of computing devices and related computing devices, systems and methods.
The applicant listed for this patent is Micron Technology, Inc.. Invention is credited to Hyunsuk Chun, Xiaopeng Qu.
Application Number | 20200137923 16/174810 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 70325740 |
Filed Date | 2020-04-30 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200137923 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Qu; Xiaopeng ; et
al. |
April 30, 2020 |
KITS FOR ENHANCED COOLING OF COMPONENTS OF COMPUTING DEVICES AND
RELATED COMPUTING DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Abstract
Kits for cooling computing devices may include at least one
heat-generating component and a fan. A first duct may be sized and
shaped to surround the at least one heat-generating component on
three sides to direct a portion of air flow from the fan. A second
duct may be sized and shaped to extend over the first duct and
direct another portion of air flow between the first and second
ducts. The at least one heat-generating component may comprise
multiple vertically and longitudinally aligned memory modules
Computing devices, electronic systems and methods of cooling are
also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Qu; Xiaopeng; (Boise,
ID) ; Chun; Hyunsuk; (Boise, ID) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Micron Technology, Inc. |
Boise |
ID |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
70325740 |
Appl. No.: |
16/174810 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/20145 20130101;
G06F 1/20 20130101; H05K 7/20172 20130101; H05K 7/20154
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H05K 7/20 20060101
H05K007/20; G06F 1/20 20060101 G06F001/20 |
Claims
1. A kit for cooling a computing device, comprising: a fan; a first
duct sized and shaped to surround at least one heat-generating
electronic component longitudinally aligned with the first duct on
three sides of the at least one heat-generating electronic
component and to direct air flow from the fan over and around the
at least one heat-generating electronic component; and a second
duct sized and shaped to extend over the first duct in alignment
therewith on at least one side, such that the first duct is
interposed between the at least one heat-generating electronic
component and the second duct and a longitudinally extending volume
exists between the first duct and the second duct; wherein the
first duct comprises a heat sink structure located on an exterior
side of the first duct.
2. The kit of claim 1, wherein a height of the first duct
positioned to be located proximate to the at least one
heat-generating component is greater than, or at least
substantially equal to, a height of an upper extent of the at least
one heat-generating component.
3. (canceled)
4. The kit of claim 1, wherein the heat sink is integral to a
remainder of the first duct.
5. The kit of claim 1, wherein the heat sink is distinct from, and
secured to, a remainder of the first duct.
6. The kit of claim 1, wherein the first duct comprises a metal
material.
7. The kit of claim 1, wherein the second duct comprises a metal
material or a polymer material.
8. The kit of claim 1, wherein the second duct surrounds the first
duct on three sides thereof and the longitudinally extending volume
is of U-shaped cross-section.
9. The kit of claim 1, wherein side walls of the second duct are
substantially aligned with side walls of the first duct and secured
to the first duct, the longitudinally extending volume existing
between a top surface of the first duct and an interior of the
second duct.
10. A computing device, comprising: multiple, vertically and
longitudinally extending, mutually adjacent heat-generating
components; at least one fan proximate a longitudinal end of the
multiple, vertically and longitudinally extending, mutually
adjacent heat-generating components; a first longitudinally
extending duct aligned with and surrounding the multiple,
vertically and longitudinally extending, mutually adjacent
heat-generating components on three sides, the first duct
positioned to direct air flow from the fan within the duct around
and between multiple, vertically and longitudinally extending,
mutually adjacent heat-generating components; and a second duct
extending over the first duct and providing a longitudinally
extending volume between the first duct and the second duct for air
flow from the at least one fan; wherein the first duct comprises a
heat sink structure located on an upper surface of the first duct
opposite the multiple, vertically and longitudinally extending,
mutually adjacent heat-generating components, the heat sink
structure thermally coupled to the multiple, vertically and
longitudinally extending, mutually adjacent heat-generating
component.
11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein an underlying surface
of the first duct is spaced from the multiple, vertically and
longitudinally extending, mutually adjacent heat-generating
components.
12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein an underlying surface
of the first duct is in thermal contact with the multiple,
vertically and longitudinally extending, mutually adjacent
heat-generating components.
13. (canceled)
14. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the first duct and
the heat sink structure comprise a unitary structure.
15. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the heat sink
structure is a separate structure from the first duct, and secured
to the first duct.
16. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the first duct
comprises a metal or metal alloy material.
17. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the second duct
comprises a metal material or a polymer material.
18. The computing device of claim 10, further comprising at least
one processor, the at least one processor located between the at
least one fan and the multiple, vertically and longitudinally
extending, mutually adjacent heat-generating components.
19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the second duct
extends longitudinally closer to the at least one processor than
the first duct.
20. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the second duct
extends over the first duct in spaced relation thereto, forming the
longitudinally extending volume in a U-shaped cross-section.
21. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the first duct and
the second duct are of a substantially common lateral extent with
substantially mutually vertically aligned side walls to constrain
the longitudinally extending volume between a top surface of the
first duct and an interior of the second duct.
22. An electronic system, comprising: an input device; an output
device; a processor in operable communication with the input device
and the output device; multiple longitudinally and vertically
aligned memory modules in operable communication with the
processor; and a cooling assembly comprising: at least one fan
positioned to direct air flow toward and past the multiple
longitudinally and vertically aligned memory modules; a first duct
extending over and aligned with the multiple longitudinally and
vertically aligned memory modules; and a second duct over the first
duct defining a longitudinally extending volume therebetween;
wherein the first duct comprises a heat sink structure located on
an exterior side of the first duct.
23. The electronic system of claim 22, wherein the longitudinally
extending volume extends around sides of the first duct.
24. A method of cooling multiple longitudinally and vertically
aligned memory modules, the method comprising: directing air flow
toward the multiple longitudinally and vertically aligned memory
modules; constraining a portion of the air flow around and between
the multiple longitudinally and vertically aligned memory modules
with a first duct; constraining another portion of the air flow
within a volume between at least an upper surface of the first duct
and an interior of a second duct extending over the first duct; and
dissipating heat utilizing a heat sink structure located on an
exterior side of the first duct.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein constraining the other portion
of the air flow within a volume between at least an upper surface
of the first duct and an interior of a second duct extending over
the first duct further comprises constraining the other portion
within a volume extending between sides of the first duct and sides
of the second duct.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to devices, systems,
structures, kits, methods, and techniques for enhanced cooling of
computing devices and components thereof. More specifically,
disclosed embodiments relate to configurations for ducts that may
better direct flow of at least portions of a cooling fluid around
heat-generating electronic components, may better direct flow of
other portions of the cooling fluid over the ducts themselves, and
may optionally enable conductive transfer of heat from the
heat-generating components.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Components of computing devices that consume electrical
power, such as logic devices and memory devices, also generate heat
during operation. Certain heat-generating components, such as logic
devices (e.g., memory controllers, central processing units (CPUs),
graphics processing units (GPUs), application specific integrated
circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), digital
signal processors (DSPs)), emit far more heat than other components
such as memory, and such excess heat may compromise operation and
shorten the life of both types of components. Heat management
techniques for the heat-generating components of computing devices
may generally include thermally coupling a heat sink to a
heat-generating component (e.g., using a thermal interface
material), providing air flow over and around the heat-generating
component (e.g., using a fan), or thermally coupling a liquid
cooling apparatus to the heat-generating component. In solutions
employing air cooling, a duct may be provided to direct the airflow
along a desired flow path.
[0003] Specific thermal management problems arise in the case of
servers comprising CPUs and multiple memory modules, such as dual
in-line memory modules (DIMMs) each comprising multiple DRAM chips
and buffer memory. When unconstrained cooling air flow is directed
over one or more CPUs directionally followed by multiple,
vertically extending memory modules, a significant volume of air
flows over, rather than between, the memory modules, negating much
of the effect of high power cooling fans. In another common server
configuration, two banks of vertically extending memory modules
flank one or more CPUs. Air flow directed by one or more cooling
fans parallel to the memory modules flows primary in the corridor
between the banks of memory modules and over the one or more CPUs,
again largely negating the effect of high power cooling fans.
[0004] The use of a single duct extending over memory modules to
constrain air flow to a volume immediately surrounding the memory
modules and between the memory modules, issues of excessive memory
operating temperatures remain. Such issues arise from limitations
in using conventional single air duct configurations. To improve
cooling capability using a single air duct, higher air speed is
required. However, there are at least two problems associated with
higher air speeds. First, when air speed is relatively low, for
example less than two m/s, a slight increase in air speed can
dramatically improve thermal performance. However, when the
employed air speed is already relatively high, for example greater
than about three m/s, the effect of air speed on cooling
performance becomes ever-more negligible as air speed increases.
Further, higher speed requirements dictate more power consumption
from the fans and more noise from the cooled system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] While this disclosure concludes with claims particularly
pointing out and distinctly claiming specific embodiments, various
features and advantages of embodiments within the scope of this
disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following
description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a computing device
including ducts in accordance with this disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an
interior of the computing device of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway perspective side view of another
portion of a computing device including ducts in accordance with
this disclosure showing another configuration for fans relative to
the ducts; and
[0009] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of another computing
device including other embodiments of ducts in accordance with this
disclosure; and
[0010] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an
embodiment of an electronic system that includes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The illustrations presented in this disclosure are not meant
to be actual views of any particular computing device or component
thereof, but are merely idealized representations employed to
describe illustrative embodiments. Thus, the drawings are not
necessarily to scale.
[0012] Disclosed embodiments relate generally to configurations for
ducts that may better direct flow of at least portions of a cooling
fluid (e.g., air) adjacent to and around heat-generating
components, may better direct flow of other portions of the cooling
fluid over the ducts themselves, and may optionally enable
conductive transfer of heat from the heat-generating components.
More specifically, disclosed are embodiments of duct assemblies for
computing devices that may include multiple ducts, one immediately
proximate to the heat-generating components and another surrounding
the first duct, which may be formed from materials having high
thermal conductivity, and may enable thermal coupling of a heat
sink to the heat-generating component or components via the first
duct.
[0013] As used herein, the terms "substantially" and "about" in
reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and
includes to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would
understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met
with a degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing
tolerances. For example, a parameter that is substantially or about
a specified value may be at least about 90% the specified value, at
least about 95% the specified value, at least about 99% the
specified value, or even at least about 99.9% the specified
value.
[0014] As used herein, spatially relative terms, such as "beneath,"
"below," "lower," "bottom," "above," "upper," "top," "front,"
"rear," "left," "right," and the like, are used only for ease of
description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to
another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures.
Unless otherwise specified, the spatially relative terms are
intended to encompass different orientations in addition to the
orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if features in
the figures are inverted, elements described as "below" or
"beneath" or "under" or "on bottom of" other elements or features
will then be oriented "above" or "on top of" the other elements or
features.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a computing device 100
including ducts 102 and 104 in accordance with this disclosure. The
computing device 100 may be configured, for example, as a personal
computing device, desktop, laptop, tablet, server, server module,
programmable logic controller (PLC), gaming cabinet or console, or
another device configured to process, store and output data
electrically in response to input. The computing device 100 may
include a case 106 sized and shaped to accommodate and protect
interior components therein and to form at least a portion of an
exterior of the computing device 100. Though the case 106 shown in
FIG. 1 is depicted as extending around, and forming an exterior
surface of, three sides of the computing device 100 (i.e., top,
left, and right sides), in other embodiments the case 106 may
extend around, and form an exterior surface of, more or fewer
sides. For example, the case 106 may extend entirely around, and
enclose, all the other components of the computing device 100,
though vent holes and other apertures providing communication
between the interior and the exterior of the case 106 may be
provided.
[0016] A substrate 108 may be secured to the case 106. The
substrate 108 may be configured to support other components of the
computing device 100 thereon, and provide operative connection
between at least certain of the components. The substrate 108 may
be configured as, for example, a motherboard, printed circuit board
(PCB), system board, logic board, interposer, or another device
configured to support and provide operative connection between
other components of the computing device 100. In some embodiments,
such as that shown in FIG. 1, the substrate 108 may form a bottom,
exterior surface of the computing device 100. In other embodiments,
the substrate 108 may be encased and supported by the case 106,
such that the case 106 may extend between the substrate 108 and the
exterior of the computing device 100. The substrate 108 may include
one or more receivers 110 (e.g., sockets, slots, power connections,
data connections, etc.) located on an upper extent (e.g., an upper
surface 114 or edge) of the substrate 108 within the case 106. The
receivers 110 may be configured to receive other components,
mechanically securing and operatively connecting them to the
substrate 108. The substrate 108 may further include one or more
integrated active and/or passive components 112 (e.g., system
memory, a clock generator, a chipset, etc.) located on the upper
surface 114 of the substrate 108 within the case 106. The
integrated active and/or passive components 112 may be directly
mechanically secured, and operatively connected, to the substrate
108 (e.g., by soldering, reflow of electrically conductive
material, etc.).
[0017] At least one heat-generating component in the form of a
nontransitory memory device 116 may be supported on the substrate
108. In some embodiments, multiple, vertically and longitudinally
extending, mutually adjacent heat-generating components may be
employed in computing device 100. For example, a group (e.g., a
bank) of memory devices 116 in the form of multiple, longitudinally
and vertically aligned memory modules may be mechanically secured,
and operatively connected, to the substrate 108 via corresponding
receivers 110 (e.g., slots). A number of memory devices 116 in each
grouping may be, for example, one, two, four, eight, or more. The
memory devices 116 may be configured as, for example, flash memory,
read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM),
erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically
erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), random access
memory (RAM), static random-access memory (SRAM), dynamic
random-access memory (DRAM), magnetic random access memory (MRAM),
feeroelectric random access memory (FeRAM), or cache memory. As a
specific, nonlimiting example, the memory devices 116 may be
configured as dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) including, for
example, multiple double data rate (DDR), DDR2, DDR3, DDR4 RAM, or
DDR5 RAM, semiconductor dice and buffer memory. Such memory
devices, for example in the case of fifth generation double data
rate (DDR) RAM may reach power levels of 15 W per DIMM, while
having a reduced pitch of about 7.6 mm between mutually adjacent
modules in a multi-module assembly.
[0018] A processor 118 may be supported on and operably coupled to
the substrate 108. For example, the processor 118 may be
mechanically secured, and operatively connected, to the substrate
108 via a receiver 110 (e.g., a socket). The processor 118 may be
configured as, for example, a central processing unit (CPU),
graphics processing unit (GPU), digital signal processor (DSP),
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable
gate array (FPGA), or microprocessor. As a specific, nonlimiting
example, the processor 118 may be configured as a CPU, and may be
seated in a receiver 110 configured as an appropriate socket. In
some embodiments, a heat sink 120 may be thermally coupled to the
processor 118 to assist in dissipating heat generated by the
processor 118. For example, the heat sink 120 may be supported on
an upper surface of the processor 118, and a thermal interface
material (TIM), such as, for example, a thermal adhesive or thermal
grease, may be interposed between the processor 118 and the heat
sink 120. The heat sink 120 may include, for example, a material
having high thermal conductivity (e.g., a metal or metal alloy) and
may have fins, pipes, fans, and/or flowing cooling fluid to assist
with heat dissipation.
[0019] At least one fan 122 may be supported on the substrate 108.
For example, a first fan 122A (see FIG. 2) may be oriented to
direct air flow toward the grouping of memory devices 116, and a
second fan 122B may be oriented to direct air flow toward the
processor 118. The fan 122 or fans 122A and 122B may be located
proximate to a longitudinal end of the memory devices 116.
[0020] In some embodiments, additional components may be provided
with the computing device 100. For example, the computing device
100 may include a power supply, additional nontransitory memory
(e.g., hard drives, flash drives, etc.), a discrete graphics card,
an optical drive, data ports, peripheral component interconnect
(PCI) accessories, networking devices (e.g., wired or wireless
networking devices), etc.
[0021] As devices, such as the memory devices 116 and processor
118, decrease in size and increase in power density, and as more
and more memory devices 116 are added to provide next-generation
functionality to computing devices 100, required heat transfer
rates to maintain operating temperatures within acceptable ranges
become more difficult to achieve. For example and as noted above,
the provision of a fan to provide air flow, and increases to the
speed of such air flow, have been attempted to dissipate generated
heat. However, further increasing the speed of cooling already
high-speed air flows has a smaller impact on operating temperature
than providing air flow where there previously was none. The
inventors have found that the provision of a single-walled air duct
may also be inadequate to effectively maintain the operating
temperatures of next-generation computing devices 100 within
acceptable ranges. For example, a double-walled air duct may be
provided around at least a grouping of the memory devices 116,
which may synergistically, and unexpectedly, dissipate heat more
effectively than increasing the speed of air flow and providing a
single-walled air duct over memory devices 116.
[0022] The computing device 100 may include a first duct 102 sized
and shaped to surround the grouping of memory devices 116 proximate
to the grouping of memory devices 116 on three sides and to direct
air flow from the first fan 122A (see FIG. 2) around the grouping
of memory devices 116. The first duct 102 may be supported on the
substrate 108, and may extend over the grouping of memory devices
116, and laterally adjacent to the grouping of memory devices 116
on two sides, between the grouping of memory devices 116 and the
case 106. The first duct 102 may be at least substantially aligned
with at least a portion of the first fan 122A (see FIG. 2), such
that at least a portion of air flow generated by the first fan 122A
(see FIG. 2) may flow through the first duct 102. The first duct
102 may form a flow path immediately around the grouping of memory
devices 116, such that air flowing through the first duct 102 may
be confined to flow through and around the grouping or memory
devices 116. Absent the first duct 102 and as noted above, air flow
from the first fan 122A (see FIG. 2) may take a path of lesser
resistance, such that less air may flow directly around and between
the grouped memory devices 116.
[0023] At least the first duct 102 may include a material
exhibiting a high thermal conductivity, which may enable the first
duct 102 to better dissipate heat from the memory devices 116. For
example, the first duct 102 may include a metal material, such as a
metal or metal alloy material. More specifically and without
limitation, the first duct 102 may include, for example, a copper,
copper alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy material.
[0024] The computing device 100 may include a second duct 104 sized
and shaped to surround the first duct 102 on three sides, such that
the first duct 102 is interposed between the grouping of memory
devices 116 and the second duct 104. The second duct 104 may be
supported on the substrate 108, and may extend over the first duct
102, and laterally adjacent to the first duct 102 on two sides,
between the first duct 102 and the case 106. The second duct 104
may be at least substantially aligned with at least a portion of
the first fan 122A (see FIG. 2), such that at least another portion
of the air flow generated by the first fan 122A (see FIG. 2) may
flow through the second duct 104. The second duct 104 may be spaced
from, and form a flow path immediately around the first duct 102,
such that a longitudinally extending volume exists between the
first duct 102 and the second duct 104 and air flowing through the
second duct 104 may be confined to flow over and around the first
duct 102. In an embodiment, the flow path between the first duct
102 and the second duct 104 may be of U-shaped cross-section.
[0025] The second duct 104 may include a material having high
thermal conductivity or a relatively lower thermal conductivity.
For example, the second duct 104 may include a metal material such
as a metal or metal alloy, or a polymer material. More
specifically, the second duct 104 may include, for example and
without limitation, a copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum
alloy, thermoplastic, or thermoset material. The second duct 104
may enable air flowing therethrough to further dissipate heat from
the memory devices 116 via convection.
[0026] In some embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 1, the
processor 118 may be located outside the first duct 102 and the
second duct 104. For example, the processor 118 may be located
laterally adjacent the second duct 104 in a volume between the
second duct 104 and a wall of the case 106. In some such
embodiments, the computing device 100 may include a second fan 122B
positioned and oriented to direct cooling air flow over and around
the processor 118, at least substantially outside the first duct
102 and the second duct 104, through the case 106.
[0027] A minimum height H.sub.1 of an underlying surface 124 of the
first duct 102 positioned to be located proximate to the memory
devices 116 may be, for example, greater than, or at least
substantially equal to, a greatest height H.sub.2 of any one of the
upper surfaces 126 of the memory devices 116, as measured in a
direction at least substantially perpendicular to the upper surface
114 of the substrate 108 from the upper surface 114 of the
substrate 108. More specifically, the height H.sub.1 of the
underlying surface 124 of the first duct 102 located adjacent to
the memory devices 116 may be at least substantially equal to the
heights H.sub.2 of each of the upper surfaces 126 of the memory
devices 116 above the upper surface 114 of the substrate 108, such
that the first duct 102 may be in contact with the memory devices
116 at their upper surfaces 126.
[0028] In some embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 1, the
underlying surface 124 of the first duct 102 facing the substrate
108 may be thermally coupled to the upper surface 126 of at least
one memory device 116 in the grouping. For example, the underlying
surface 124 of the first duct 102 may be in contact with the upper
surface 126 of each memory device 116 in the grouping, optionally
with a thermal interface material interposed therebetween. The high
thermal conductivity of the first duct 102 may better enable the
first duct 102 to dissipate heat from the memory devices 116,
acting as a heat spreader. Thermally coupling the first duct 102 to
the memory devices 116 may enable the first duct 102 to dissipate
heat from the memory devices 116 via conduction, in addition to the
convective heat transfer from flowing air. Air flowing between the
second duct 104 and the first duct 102 may better dissipate heat
absorbed conductively by the first duct 102 via convention.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an
interior of the computing device 100 of FIG. 1. A maximum diameter
D of the first fan 112A may be, for example, greater than, at least
substantially equal to, or less than a minimum height H.sub.3 of an
underlying surface 128 of the second duct 104 facing the first duct
102 as measured from the upper surface 114 of the substrate 108.
More specifically, the diameter D of the first fan 112A may be, for
example, less than or at least substantially equal to the height
H.sub.3 of the underlying surface 128 of the second duct 104, and
the first fan 112A may be at least substantially aligned with the
second duct 104, such that at least a majority, and potentially
all, of the air flow generated by the first fan 112A may be
confinable within the second duct 104 in some embodiments. As a
specific, nonlimiting example, the diameter D of the first fan 112A
may be less than the height H.sub.3 of the underlying surface 128
of the second duct 104, the diameter D of the first fan 122A may be
located within the periphery of the second duct 104, the first fan
122A may be oriented such that a direction of airflow generated by
the first fan 122A is at least substantially parallel to an edge
formed at an intersection between the underlying surface 128 of the
second duct 104 and a side surface 130 (see FIG. 1) of the second
duct 104, and the first fan 122A may be located adjacent to, or at
least partially within, at least the second duct 104.
[0030] The maximum diameter D of the first fan 112A may be, for
example, greater than, at least substantially equal to, or less
than the minimum height H.sub.1 of the underlying surface 124 of
the first duct 102 as measured from the upper surface 114 of the
substrate 108. More specifically, the diameter D of the first fan
112A may be, for example, greater than or at least substantially
equal to the height H.sub.1 of the underlying surface 124 of the
first duct 102, and the first fan 112A may be only partially
aligned with the first duct 102, such that at least some, and up to
a majority, of the air flow generated by the first fan 112A may be
confinable within the second duct 104 in some embodiments. As a
specific, nonlimiting example, the diameter D of the first fan 112A
may be greater than the height H.sub.1 of the underlying surface
124 of the first duct 102, the first fan 122A may be oriented such
that a direction of airflow generated by the first fan 122A is at
least substantially parallel to an edge formed at an intersection
between the underlying surface 124 of the first duct 102 and a side
surface 132 of the first duct 102, and the first fan 122A may be
located proximate to the first duct 102.
[0031] A first length L.sub.1 of the first duct 102 may be, for
example, greater than, at least substantially equal to, or less
than a second length L.sub.2 of the second duct 104, as measured in
a direction at least substantially parallel to the intended
direction of airflow therethrough. More specifically, the first
length L.sub.1 of the first duct 102 may be, for example, less than
or at least substantially equal to the second length L.sub.2 of the
second duct 104, and the first duct 102 may be located at least
partially within the second duct 104. As a specific, nonlimiting
example, the first length L.sub.1 of the first duct 102 may be, for
example, less than the second length L.sub.2 of the second duct
104, and the first duct 102 may be located entirely within the
second duct 104. The first length L.sub.1 of the first duct 102 may
be, for example, greater than, at least substantially equal to, or
less than a greatest third length L.sub.3 of the memory devices 116
in the grouping. More specifically, the first length L.sub.1 of the
first duct 102 may be, for example, greater than or at least
substantially equal to the third length L.sub.3 of the memory
devices 116 in the grouping. As a specific, nonlimiting example,
the first length L.sub.1 of the first duct 102 may be greater than
the third length L.sub.3 of the memory devices 116 in the grouping,
as shown in FIG. 2.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway perspective side view of another
portion of a computing device 140 including the first duct 102 and
the second duct 104 in accordance with this disclosure and showing
another configuration for fans 122 relative to the first duct 102
and the second duct 104. As shown in FIG. 3, the fans 122 may be
spaced from the first duct 102 and the memory devices 116 located
therein by a distance. For example, at least one processor 118 may
be interposed between the fans 122 and the first duct 102 and
associated memory devices 116, such that air flow from the fans may
cool the processor 118 or processors 118 as well as the grouping of
memory devices 116. In such embodiments, the second duct 104 may
extend longitudinally toward the processor more than the first duct
102. In some such embodiments, the second length L.sub.2 of the
second duct 104 may be greater than the first length L.sub.1 of the
first duct 102, and at least the processor 118 or processors 118
may be located within at least the second duct 104, in addition to
the first duct 102 and associated memory devices 116 (or portions
thereof). The fans 122 may be located adjacent to, or may be
located at least partially within, the second duct 104.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the minimum height H.sub.1 of the
underlying surface 124 of the first duct 102 may be greater than
the greatest height H.sub.3 of any one of the memory devices 116 in
the grouping, such that a space 142 may remain between the first
duct 102 and each memory device 116. In such embodiments, heat
transfer away from the memory devices 116 may occur primarily, or
even exclusively, by convection. Direct conduction from the memory
devices 116 to the first duct 102 may not occur, though some heat
may transfer conductively from the memory devices, through the
substrate 108, to the first duct 102. In embodiments where the
space 142 is present between the first duct 102 and each memory
device 116, a size of the space 142 may be, for example, at least 1
mm, as measured in a direction at least substantially perpendicular
to the upper surface 114 of the substrate 108. In other
embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 4, no such space 142 may be
present between the first duct 152 and each memory device 116.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of another computing
device 150 including other embodiments of ducts in accordance with
this disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, the first duct
152 may include a heat sink 154 located on a side of the first duct
152 for positioning opposite the memory devices 116 in the
grouping. More specifically, the first duct 152 may include a heat
sink 154 interposed between the memory devices 116 and the second
duct 104. The heat sink 154 may be thermally coupled to the memory
devices 116 by, for example, contacting the underlying surface 124
of the first duct 152 to the upper surfaces 126 of the memory
devices 116, optionally with a TIM therebetween. The heat sink 154
may include, for example, a material having high thermal
conductivity (e.g., a metal or metal alloy) and may include fins,
pipes, fans, and/or flowing cooling fluid to assist with heat
dissipation. In some embodiments, the heat sink 154 may be unitary
with, and integral to, a remainder 156 of the first duct 152. For
example, the heat sink 154 may be formed at the same time as, and
from the same material as, the remainder 156 of the first duct 152,
such that no boundary may be distinguishable between the heat sink
154 and the remainder 156 of the first duct 152. In other
embodiments, the heat sink 154 may be distinct from, and secured
to, the remainder 156 of the first duct 152. For example, the heat
sink 154 may be formed separately from, and may include a different
material than, the remainder 156 of the first duct 152. In such an
embodiment, more heat may be drawn conductively from the memory
devices 116 into the flow path between the first duct 152 and the
second duct 104 to be dissipated by convection into cooling fluid
(e.g., air) flowing through the flow path.
[0035] In variations of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 4, it is
contemplated that the duct systems depicted in each drawing figure
may be modified to eliminate portions of the air flow path between
the first and second ducts between adjacent vertical sides of the
respective ducts. In other words, the air flow path would be solely
above the top of first duct 102 or 152, and between the top of
first duct 102 or 152 and the top of second duct 104. In such a
variation, side walls of the second duct are aligned with side
walls of the first duct, and secured to the first duct, so that a
longitudinally extending volume exists between a top surface of the
first duct and an interior of the second duct. In other words the
first and second ducts are of a substantially common lateral extent
with substantially vertically aligned side walls to contain the
longitudinally extending volume between the top surface of the
first duct and the interior of the second duct.
[0036] Thermal management systems including first ducts 102 or 152
and second ducts 104 in accordance with this disclosure may more
effectively maintain operating temperatures of memory devices 116,
and particularly next-generation memory devices 116, within target
operating temperatures, in comparison to conventional cooling
approaches. Experimental test results comparing the performance of
thermal management systems including first ducts 102 or 152 and
second ducts 104 in accordance with this disclosure and thermal
management systems employing a singled-walled duct were obtained by
simulating the thermal characteristics of otherwise identical
systems utilizing FLOTHERM.RTM. Systems simulation software. For
example, the operating temperatures experienced by memory devices
116 when using thermal management systems including first ducts 102
or 152 and second ducts 104 in accordance with this disclosure may
be between about 80% and about 90% of the operating temperatures
experienced in a thermal management system employing a
singled-walled duct. More specifically, the operating temperatures
experienced by memory devices 116 when using thermal management
systems including first ducts 102 or 152 and second ducts 104 in
accordance with this disclosure may be between about 82% and about
88% of the operating temperatures experienced in a thermal
management system employing a singled-walled duct. As a specific,
nonlimiting example, the operating temperatures experienced by
memory devices 116 when using thermal management systems including
first ducts 102 or 152 and second ducts 104 in accordance with this
disclosure may be between about 83% and about 87% (e.g., about 85%)
of the operating temperatures experienced in a thermal management
system employing a singled-walled duct.
[0037] The operating temperatures experienced by memory devices 116
when using thermal management systems including first ducts 102 or
152 and second ducts 104 in accordance with this disclosure may be,
for example, between about 5.degree. C. and about 30.degree. C.
cooler than the operating temperatures experienced in a thermal
management system employing a singled-walled duct. More
specifically, the operating temperatures experienced by memory
devices 116 when using thermal management systems including first
ducts 102 or 152 and second ducts 104 in accordance with this
disclosure may be, for example, between about 10.degree. C. and
about 25.degree. C. cooler than the operating temperatures
experienced in a thermal management system employing a
singled-walled duct. As a specific, nonlimiting example, the
operating temperatures experienced by memory devices 116 when using
thermal management systems including first ducts 102 or 152 and
second ducts 104 in accordance with this disclosure may be between
about 12.degree. C. and about 20.degree. C. (e.g., about 15.degree.
C. or about 18.degree. C.) cooler than the operating temperatures
experienced in a thermal management system employing a
singled-walled duct.
[0038] The assemblies a computing device 100 as shown in FIGS. 1
and 2 and incorporating cooling assemblies in accordance with
embodiments of the disclosure may be used in embodiments of
electronic systems of the present disclosure. For example, FIG. 5
is a block diagram of an illustrative electronic system 300
according to the present disclosure. The electronic system 300 may
comprise, for example, a desktop or laptop computer or computer
hardware component, a server or other networking hardware
component, etc. The electronic system 300 includes an electronic
device 301 in the form of at least one heat-generating component,
for example and without limitation multiple longitudinally and
vertically aligned memory modules in the form of DIMMs. The
electronic system 300 further may include at least one electronic
signal processor device 302 (often referred to as a
"microprocessor"), such as processor 118. The electronic system 300
may, optionally, further include one or more input devices 304 for
inputting information into the electronic system 300 by a user,
such as, for example, a mouse or other pointing device, a keyboard,
a touchpad, a button, or a control panel. The electronic system 300
may further include one or more output devices 306 for outputting
information (e.g., visual or audio output) to a user such as, for
example, a monitor, display, printer, speaker, etc. The one or more
input devices 304 and output devices 306 may communicate
electrically with at least one of the electronic device 301 and the
electronic signal processor device 302. An embodiment of a cooling
assembly according to the disclosure including at least one fan, a
first duct and a second duct cooperatively arranged with respect to
the electronic device as described above.
[0039] In summary, kits for cooling computing devices may include,
for example, a fan and two ducts. A first duct may be sized and
shaped to surround at least one heat-generating electronic
component longitudinally aligned with the first duct on three sides
of the at least one heat-generating component and to direct air
flow from the fan over and around the at least one heat generating
electronic component. A second duct may be sized and shaped to
extend over the first duct in alignment therewith on at least one
side, such that the first duct is interposed between the memory
device and the second duct and a longitudinally extending volume
exists between the first duct and the second duct.
[0040] Computing devices may include, for example, multiple,
vertically and longitudinally extending, mutually adjacent
heat-generating components and at least one fan proximate a
longitudinal end of the multiple, vertically and longitudinally
extending, mutually adjacent heat-generating components. A first
longitudinally extending duct may be aligned with and surround the
multiple, vertically and longitudinally extending, mutually
adjacent heat-generating components on three sides, the first duct
positioned to direct air flow from the fan within the duct around
and between multiple, vertically and longitudinally extending,
mutually adjacent heat-generating components. A second duct may
extend over the first duct and provide a longitudinally extending
volume between the first duct and the second duct for air flow from
the at least one fan.
[0041] Electronic systems may include an input device, an output
device, and a processor in operable communication with the input
device and the output device. Multiple longitudinally and
vertically aligned memory modules may be in operable communication
with the processor. A cooling assembly may include at least one fan
positioned to direct air flow toward and past the multiple
longitudinally and vertically aligned memory modules, a first duct
extending over and aligned with the multiple longitudinally and
vertically aligned memory modules, and a second duct over the first
duct defining a longitudinally extending volume therebetween.
[0042] Methods of cooling multiple longitudinally and vertically
aligned memory modules may involve directing air flow toward the
multiple longitudinally and vertically aligned memory modules. A
portion of the air flow may be constrained around and between the
multiple longitudinally and vertically aligned memory modules with
a first duct. Another portion of the air flow may be constrained
within a volume between at least an upper surface of the first duct
and an interior of a second duct extending over the first duct.
[0043] While certain illustrative embodiments have been described
in connection with the figures, those of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize and appreciate that the scope of this disclosure is
not limited to those embodiments explicitly shown and described in
this disclosure. Rather, many additions, deletions, and
modifications to the embodiments described in this disclosure may
be made to produce embodiments within the scope of this disclosure,
such as those specifically claimed, including legal equivalents. In
addition, features from one disclosed embodiment may be combined
with features of another disclosed embodiment while still being
within the scope of this disclosure, as contemplated by the
inventors.
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